METROPOLITAN BAKERSFIELD GENERAL PLAN UPDATE GREATER BAKERSFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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1 METROPOLITAN BAKERSFIELD GENERAL PLAN UPDATE GREATER BAKERSFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JUNE 12, 2009

2 PURPOSE OF WORKSHOP MAJOR INFLUENCES PUBLIC OUTREACH REPORT EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT SB 375/AB 32/AB 170 ATTORNEY GENERAL GROWTH OPTIONS SCHEDULE QUESTIONS

3 PUBLIC WORKSHOPS HELD IN THE FOUR QUADRANTS OF THE METROPOLITAN BAKERSFIELD AREA PHASE I MEETINGS MAY 2007 PHASE II MEETINGS JANUARY 2008

4 ADDITIONAL PUBLIC INPUT WORKSHOPS HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH KERNCOG BLUEPRINT PLANNING PROCESS VISION 2020 FACILITATED WORKSHOPS, AND CONDUCTED WEB SURVEY KERNCOG COMMISSIONED A STATISTACALLY VALID TELEPHONE SURVEY

5 HIGHLIGHTS OF STRENGTHS: GOOD PLACE TO LIVE GOOD SCHOOLS CENTRAL LOCATION BETWEEN MOUNTAINS AND COAST, NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EASY TO GET AROUND KERN RIVER PARKWAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING RELATIVELY LOW COST OF LIVING AVAILABILITY OF AGRICULTURAL LAND GOOD CLIMATE FOR YEAR- ROUND RECREATION WATER AVAILABILTY

6 HIGHLIGHTS OF WEAKNESSES: POOR AIR QUALITY RAPID GROWTH AND SPRAWL LACK OF PRESERVATION OF RESOURCES INCREASING CRIME AND GANG ACTIVITY GRAFFITI TRAFFIC CONGESTION INCREASING AREA NEEDS TO BE MORE WALKABLE AND BIKEABLE NEED BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT

7 HIGHLIGHTS OF SOLUTIONS: PASS ½ CENT SALES TAX BETTER DESIGN OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS TO INCREASE WALKABILITY NEED MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT AND HIGHER DENSITY HOUSING MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT MORE TREES INCREASED INVOLVEMENT OF COMMUNITY IN EDUCATION AND AFTER- SCHOOL PROGRAMS

8 EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT DISCUSSES ISSUES FROM THE PUBLIC WORKSHOP PROCESS DISCUSSES ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY CITY AND COUNTY STAFF SUMMARIZES EXISTING (PHYSICAL) CONDITIONS

9 EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT (cont.) IDENTIFIES CHALLENGES RELATED TO THE EXISTING GENERAL PLAN IN ADDRESSING IMPORTANT ISSUES MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES

10 EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT (cont.) ALSO ADDRESSES OTHER ISSUES AND INFLUENCES IMPORTANT TO THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE, INCLUDING: THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY BLUEPRINT PROCESS METROPOLITAN AREA DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES

11 EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT (cont.) TOPICS ARE ARRANGED IN THE REPORT BY GENERAL PLAN ELEMENT: LAND USE CIRCULATION CONSERVATION PARKS AND OPEN SPACE NOISE SAFETY PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES OTHER INFLUENCES ARE DISCUSSED IN A SEPARATE SECTION.

12 EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT (cont.) KEY OBSERVATIONS FROM THE EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT: THE EXISTING PLAN FOCUS HAS BEEN DIRECTED TO GROWTH ON THE PERIPHERY RATHER THAN INFILL OR DENSIFICATION Conclusion: The Plan needs to encourage infill growth and to respond to changes in State law.

13 EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT (cont.) KEY OBSERVATIONS FROM THE EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT: THE CURRENT CENTERS CONCEPT IS NOT WELL-DEFINED. CURRENTLY PLANNED GROWTH IS NOT TRANSIT-FRIENDLY. Conclusion: Policies describing Centers need to be improved to encourage transit-friendly development, reduce traffic and to respond to changes in State law dealing with greenhouse gases.

14 EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT (cont.) KEY OBSERVATIONS FROM THE EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT: EXISTING DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS PLACE A GREATER FOCUS ON URBANIZATION THAN AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION Conclusion: Policies to conserve farmland by discouraging growth outside the Core need to be enhanced. Policies dealing with farm/urban interfaces need to be addressed.

15 EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT (cont.) KEY OBSERVATIONS FROM THE EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT: THE METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORTATION FEE PROGRAM DOES NOT SERVE THE ENTIRE GENERAL PLAN AREA Conclusion: Programs should be added addressing infrastructure needs.

16 EXTERNAL INFLUENCES ON THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE PROCESS SB 375/AB 32/AB 170: IMPLICATIONS/SUMMARY (COUNTY STAFF) ATTORNEY GENERAL IMPLICATIONS (CITY STAFF)

17 SENATE BILL 375 BACKGROUND THE GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS ACT (AB32) REQUIRES THE STATE TO REDUCE GHG EMISSIONS TO 1990 LEVELS BY 2020

18 SENATE BILL 375 BACKGROUND (cont.) SENATE BILL 375 HELPS TO IMPLEMENT AB32 BY LINKING PLANNING FOR LAND USE, TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING BY CURBING SPRAWL AND LOWERING VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED

19 SENATE BILL 375 GOALS ALLOCATE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDS THROUGH KERN COG FOR PROJECTS THAT REDUCE VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED

20 SENATE BILL 375 GOALS (cont.) USE CEQA STREAMLINING AS AN INCENTIVE TO ENCOURAGE COMPACT LOCATIONS AND HIGHER DENSITY RESIDENTIAL USES

21 SENATE BILL 375 GOALS (cont.) COORDINATE REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS WITH TRANSPORTATION FUNDING THAT REDUCES VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED

22 KEY PROVISIONS OF SENATE BILL 375 CARB IS TO ASSIGN REGIONAL TARGETS FOR GHG EMISSION REDUCTIONS FOR CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS TARGETS WILL BE USED BY KERNCOG TO DEVELOP A LAND USE EMISSION REDUCTION PLAN (SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES STRATEGY)

23 KEY PROVISIONS OF SENATE BILL 375 (cont.) THE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES STRATEGY (SCS) IS A PART OF COG S REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN THE SCS WILL INCORPORATE MEASURES FOR REDUCING GHG TO MEET CARB S REGIONAL EMISSION REDUCTION TARGET.

24 KEY PROVISIONS OF SENATE BILL 375 (cont.) TRANSPORTATION FUNDING REQUESTS WILL BE EVALUATED BY KERN COG FOR CONFORMITY WITH THE SCS

25 KEY PROVISIONS OF SENATE BILL 375 (cont.) CEQA STREAMLINING IS PROVIDED FOR PROJECTS THAT CONFORM TO THE SCS CERTAIN HIGH-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL OR MIX-USE PROJECTS WHICH ARE PROXIMATE TO TRANSIT WOULD BE EXEMPT FROM CEQA

26 ATTORNEY GENERAL S S OFFICE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY LAWSUIT (APRIL 2007) PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM (JAN 2008) CITY OF STOCKTON AGREEMENT (SEPT 2008) LETTER TO CITIES AND COUNTIES (MARCH 2009)

27 SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY GENERAL PLAN DID NOT PROPERLY ADDRESS GLOBAL WARMING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION PLAN

28 PLANNING AND CONSERVATION LEAGUE My office is looking, and we re going to send you a comment. And you should look at it or we re going to sue you Quoted by: Jerry Brown, California Attorney General

29 CITY OF STOCKTON AGREEMENT CLIMATE ACTION PLAN NEW HOUSING BUILD IT GREEN CERTIFICATION NON-RESIDENTIAL BUILDING > 5000 sq. ft. LEED SILVER CERTIFIED REDUCTION IN GHG EMISSIONS FOR EXISTING HOUSING EXPLORE REQUIRING GHG REDUCING RETROFITS

30 STOCKTON (cont.) TRANSIT GAP STUDY WITH STRATEGIES PROJECT CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD TRANSIT 4,400 HOUSING UNITS DOWNTOWN (3,000 BY 2020) 14,000 HOUSING UNITS WITHIN EXISTING CITY LIMITS

31 LETTER FROM ATTORNEY S S OFFICE HIGHER DENSITY DEVELOPMENT THAT FOCUSES GROWTH WITHIN EXISTING URBAN AREA; POLICIES AND PROGRAMS TO FACILITATE AND INCREASE BIKING, WALKING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND REDUCE VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED; THE CREATION OF COMPLETE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE LOCAL SERVICES, SCHOOLS AND PARKS ARE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF RESIDENCES;

32 LETTER FROM ATTORNEY S S OFFICE (cont.) INCENTIVES FOR MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT; ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY FINANCING; POLICIES FOR PRESERVATION OF AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTED LAND SERVING AS CARBON SINKS;

33 LETTER FROM ATTORNEY S S OFFICE (cont.) REQUIREMENTS AND ORDINANCES THAT MANDATE ENERGY AND WATER CONSERVATION AND GREEN BUILDING PRACTICES

34 MEETING THE CHALLENGE UP FRONT CONSIDERATION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL S CONCERNS CLIMATE ACTION PLAN EARLY CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL S OFFICE

35 URBAN OPPORTUNITIES GROWTH SCENARIOS BUSINESS AS USUAL PLAN INFILL PLAN STRATEGIC GROWTH PLAN

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37 WHAT DO THE EXISTING GENERAL PLAN MAP AND POLICIES REPRESENT ONCE THE REQUIRED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW HAS BEEN COMPLETED, DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS CAN BE CONSIDERED IN ANY LOCATION (WITH EXCEPTIONS FOR FLOODPLAINS, HABITAT AREAS, WILLIAMSON ACT LAND USE CONTRACTS, ETC)

38 WHY IS THIS A CHALLENGE NOW? DEVELOPMENT LOCATED OUTSIDE THE URBAN AREA CREATES CHALLENGES: ROADWAY SYSTEMS BECOME MORE CONGESTED AS DRIVERS TRY TO REACH HIGHWAY 99 AND DOWNTOWN FROM OUTLYING AREAS TRAFFIC IMPACT FEES ARE INSUFFICIENT TO FUND NEEDED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FACILITIES TO CONNECT THE DEVELOPMENT TO THE URBAN CORE WITH THE HIGH DISPERSED LOW DENSITY DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS, TRANSIT SYSTEMS CANNOT OPERATE EFFICIENTLY ENOUGH TO HELP RELIEVE TRAFFIC CONGESTION

39 WHY IS THIS A CHALLENGE NOW? (cont.) TRIP LENGTHS INCREASE WHICH RESULTS IN GREATER CO2 EMISSIONS INFRASTRUCTURE DEMANDS ARE HARDER TO ACHIEVE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT FUNDING IS AVAILABLE FISCAL IMPACTS OCCUR TO PARKS, FLOOD CONTROL, POLICE AND FIRE STATIONS, SCHOOLS AND OTHER FACILITIES

40 WHY IS THIS A CHALLENGE NOW? (cont.) CONVERSION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND OCCURS IN A PIECEMEAL MANNER, WHICH ALTERS LAND USE PATTERNS AND IMPACTS CONTINUED AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS NEW ANTI-SPRAWL AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION REDUCTION LAWS CANNOT BE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED UNLESS NEW APPROACHES ARE CONSIDERED

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42 STRATEGIC PLAN MAP CONTAINS OVER 50,000 ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED LAND; COULD ACCOMMODATE THE HISTORIC AVERAGE HOUSING DEMAND OF 2,000 DWELLING UNITS ANNUALLY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM GENERALLY OPERATES AT ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF SERVICE TRAFFIC IMPACT FEES (COUPLED WITH OTHER FUNDING RESOURCES) GENERALLY ADEQUATE TO SUPPORT PLANNED FACILITIES NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE DEVELOPEMENT

43 STRATEGIC PLAN MAP (cont.) INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE PLANNED GROWTH ALLOWS INCREASED USE OF TRANSIT SYSTEMS OR OTHER ALTERNATE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION SIZE OF AREA PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCENTIVES FOR IN-FILL DEVELOPMENT AND ALTERNATE PROJECT DESIGNS

44 OPPORTUNITIES FOR IN-FILL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN STRATEGIC PLAN AREA CEQA STREAMLINING DEVELOPMENT CERTAINTY IN-FILL INCENTIVES AVAILABLE ASSISTS CITY/COUNTY WITH NEW GHG LAW COMPLIANCE, MANY TIED TO AVAILABILITY OF REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDS PROVIDES FOR CONSERVATION OF EXISTING AGRICULTURAL LANDS

45 URBAN EXPANSION AREA THIS AREA IS NOT SIGNIFICANTLY CONSTRAINED BY HAZARDS, HABITAT, AGRICULTURAL PRESERVES, OR OTHER FEATURES CONTAINS OVER 19,000 ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED LAND EXISTING TRAFFIC MITIGATION FEES FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE METRO AREA DO NOT PROVIDE FOR THE ROADWAYS SERVING THIS AREA

46 URBAN EXPANSION AREA (cont.) TRAFFIC GENERATED IN THIS AREA FROM NEW DEVELOPMENT WOULD CAUSE THE FAILURE OF ROADWAYS BOTH LOCALLY AND IN THE CENTRAL CORE DEVELOPMENT TO PROCEED IN THIS AREA AT LOCATIONS BUT WITH ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS

47 FUTURE PLANNING AREA THIS AREA IS THE REMAINDER OF THE METROPOLITAN BAKERSFIELD AREA ANTICIPATED TO DEVELOP AFTER 2050 CONTAINS OVER 73,700 ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED LAND TRAFFIC IMPACT FEES DO NOT PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEEDED ROADWAYS IN THIS AREA

48 FUTURE PLANNING AREA (cont.) FUTURE TRAFFIC GENERATED FROM DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA COULD EXACERBATE CONGESTION CAUSED BY DEVELOPMENT IN THE URBAN EXPANSION AREA ACTIVE AGRICULTURE USES OVER 58,784 ACRES ARE UNDER WILLIAMSON ACT CONTRACTS

49 NEXT STEPS/SCHEDULE SUMMER 2009 WORKSHOPS ON GENERAL PLAN POLICIES WINTER 2010 DRAFT GENERAL PLAN AND EIR FALL 2010 ADOPTION OF GENERAL PLAN UPDATE AND FINAL EIR

50 CONTACT INFORMATION CITY OF BAKERSFIELD PLANNING DEPT CHESTER AVENUE BAKERSFIELD CA JIM EGGERT COUNTY OF KERN PLANNING DEPT M STREET BAKERSFIELD CA LORELEI OVIATT (loreleio@co.kern.ca.us) (661) Website: (click on General Plan Update link)

51 METROPOLITAN BAKERSFIELD GENERAL PLAN UPDATE GREATER BAKERSFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE END

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